RTI International is a nonprofit organization headquartered in the Research Triangle Park in North Carolina that provides research and technical services.
RTI is currently seeking to fill a vacancy for the Kenya Crops & Dairy Market Systems (KCDMS) Activity, which is part of the Feed the Future program, America’s initiative to combat global hunger, poverty and malnutrition. In this regard, USAID is partnering with RTI International on a 5-year (Oct 2017 to Sept 2022) cooperative agreement – KCDMS Activity – to help strengthen market systems and increase agricultural production to reduce poverty and malnutrition in Kenya. The project impacts competitive, resilient market systems in Kenya’s horticulture and dairy sectors. We seek to recruit an Environmental Specialist to be based in the Nairobi office.
Job Summary:
The Environmental Specialist will report directly to the Agricultural Productivity Director and provide technical support to project sub-offices and stakeholders on environmentally sustainable agricultural systems, best practices, conservation farming, water harvesting, climate change effects, and compliant environmental impact mitigation measures. In addition s/he is expected to contribute fully to the overall objectives of the KCDMS project, conducting him/herself properly at all times as a senior representative of the program.
Essential Duties
- Advise on environmental risks, costs and legislative compliance associated with KCDMS activities.
- Conduct environmental audits to monitor and risk assess environmental performance, ensuring compliance with USAID and Kenya Environmental Protection Agency regulations and striving for continuous performance improvement.
- Monitor and report on application of environmental impact mitigation measures as outlined in the KCDMS approved monitoring plan.
- Review USAID Feed the Future policy on environmental issues and remains up to date on new developments which should be incorporated into program activities.
- Develop extension/training modules for safe and effective use of pesticides, fertilizers, etc. based on national and international standards and regulations, and KCDMS approved PERSUAP.
- Provide technical direction and runs test plots on conservation farming technologies, working with staff and other experts on best practices. Train staff and stakeholders on best practices for environmentally sustainable agricultural practices (crop rotation, fallowing, inter cropping, low tillage, contouring, etc.).
- Provide technical direction for drought mitigation practices and lead and or support the technical activities for weather forecasting, crop insurance, water harvesting and other environmentally sound practices and technologies that apply to the field.
- Contribute to farm and enterprise level economic modeling of impact of environmentally sustainable best practices.
- Visit field sites and project grantees to determine whether the proposed activity encompasses the potential for environmental pollution or damage and, if so, to determine the scope and extent of the additional evaluation, mitigation, and monitoring necessary to fulfill environmental requirements.
- Prepare monthly and quarterly field reports that include learning points and success stories. Contribute to annual data gathering process for key USAID indicators. Ensure data accuracy via site visits, data audits, etc.
- For environmental concerns, and as necessary, plan and participates in evaluations, selected research activities, and baselines surveys by providing the necessary program and organizational support; and in knowledge capture events that include staff and partner exchanges, and all staff meetings.
- Monitor closely the performance of environmental activities and document all changes (both qualitatively and quantitatively) in line with the program’s M&E framework and guidelines for tracking the transformation process and ensures that all such data and information is shared within the program. Assists the M&E Officers to feed data into the MIS system.
- Identify STTA needs in the environment sector and assists in the process (needs identification, SOW, requests) and reviews their reports and other deliverables
- Working with the grants team, utilizes the project grants program through appropriate grant concepts and implementation.
- Guides the environmental process through the KCDMS gender mainstreaming plan to ensure they are incorporated into the process.
- Works closely with the Regional Coordinators and other sector Technical Leaders and staff to coordinate environmental program activities, effectively utilize project equipment and resources, and to communicate well with multi-program actors on common message and united assistance.
- Contributes to the preparation and drafting of the environment sector components of the quarterly and annual reports and any other project publications as required.
- Contribute to the annual implementation plan for environment, lead in its implementation and use it to monitor and report on results.
- Actively engage in collaborating with program stakeholders as they relate to the environment program, including trade associations, NGOs, government agencies, universities, research agencies, value chain actors, other donor programs, and strategic partners.
- Any other duties as assigned by the supervisor
Qualifications:
Bachelor’s Degree in Agribusiness or Environmental Science /Natural Resource and 5 years of experience, Master’s degree and 3 years of experience, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
Disclaimer
The above information on this description has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification. It is not intended to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required of employees assigned to this job.
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